Holcombe Men are looking to return to winning ways as second-placed Surbiton head to Medway on Saturday.

League leaders Old Georgians beat Holcombe 3-2 last time out, with Holcs not in action last weekend as opponents Wimbledon were in Austria competing in the EuroHockey Indoor Club Cup.

Preview by Lucas Ball

The leaders also beat Surbiton 4-2 at Sugden Road in their last match to open up a three-point gap at the top.

Barry Middleton's side are currently level on points with Wimbledon in third, ahead of the Londoners on goal difference. A win on Saturday would put them within three points of Surbiton with a game-in-hand.

Surbiton have notched 67 times in 13 matches compared to 56 in 12 for Holcombe, while Mark Pearn's side have conceded three more than Holcombe with 18 compared to 15 for Middleton's men.

The two sides met three times in the 2022/23 season, both sides winning one with a 2-2 draw early on in Phase One. Surbiton won 3-2 at Sugden Road in Phase Two before Holcombe beat Pearn's side 2-1 at the same venue on League Finals weekend to qualify for the Euro Hockey League and set up a final meeting with Old Georgians.

Middleton's side are also in midweek action as they travel to face Wimbledon on Thursday (December 29th) at Raynes Park High School.

Holcombe Women are looking to return to winning ways and extend their unbeaten run to six Division One South matches as Harleston Magpies visit Holcombe Park for a 2pm pushback on Saturday.

The two sides last met in October, with Holcombe running out 6-1 winners courtesy of goals from Emma Bandurak (2), Deanna Ritchie (2), Lucy Whalley and Lottie Bingham. Laura Tibbenham scored the Magpies' only goal.

Magpies, though, have been on an upwards trajectory in recent weeks, winning three out of their four matches since the Christmas break to move out of the relegation zone and up to sixth, three points above ninth-placed Team Bath Buccaneers.

Holcombe drew both matches in their double-header weekend last time out, 1-1 away to Slough and 2-2 at home to leaders Surbiton 2s, becoming the first time this season to come away from a game against Will Fulker's side with any points.

Those results leave Holcombe two points above Barnes in second with five games to play. Barnes have faltered of late, with three defeats in four, including losses to Bath and the Magpies.

Harleston have scored exactly half the number of goals that Holcombe have, with 20 compared to 40 for Nick Bandurak's side, the second-highest tally in the league. Meanwhile, Magpies have the joint-second-best defensive record in the bottom-half with 26 conceded, compared to Holcs' 21.

Push-back for the men’s Premier Division game is at 6pm and entry is free at Holcombe Park for both matches.